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GAZANS GONE WILD
Tensions are rising among the heavily armed residents of Gaza, reports the LA Times:
Men are beating their wives and fighting with their neighbors. Families are living on the generosity of relatives and credit from merchants, both of which are starting to run dry. Youth are turning to petty crime.
Only petty crime? Can’t they afford the real thing?
In Khan Yunis, a gritty southern Gaza city that features a thriving gunrunning trade, Brig. Gen. Mustafa Wafi’s police force struggles to keep up. “People have a lot of weapons, and the slightest things set them off,” he said.
Sounds like these people need ... a state!
Thousands of young Palestinian men belong to armed militant groups. The militarization of Gazan society makes it more likely that otherwise harmless scuffles will turn deadly.
In a personal conflict, “they end up using the weapons that they have to defend against the occupation against each other,” said Abu Thaer, a spokesman for the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade militia.
How sweet. A community service announcement from the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade.
In May, a 59-year-old man suffering from heart failure was brought into the Khan Yunis hospital’s emergency room. When informed of the man’s death, his family “went crazy and trashed the emergency room…. Anyone wearing a white coat was beaten,” said Dr. Nasser Azaar, the emergency room director.
Three months later, Azaar remains shocked by the fact that several local doctors related to the man participated in the frenzied destruction.
That isn’t the only episode of what the Times calls “hospital violence”:
According to several accounts, the fight started when at least 30 armed members of the Jundeya family came to visit a sick relative. Executive Force guards demanded that they surrender their weapons before entering, triggering a confrontation.
For two hours, he two forces traded gunfire on the hospital grounds as family elders tried to mediate. There were no deaths, but at least three Executive Force members and an unknown number of Jundeya fighters were injured.
If you’re going to be injured in a shoot-out, best do it on hospital grounds.
The aggressive behavior of Gaza’s clans points to a creeping erosion of public faith in the law, said Hamdi Shaqqura of the Palestine Center of Human Rights.
An erosion of public faith in the law? Under an Hamas government? Why, the very notion is absurd.
(Via J.F. Beck)
UPDATE. Look out, Hamas! The voters won’t be happy to hear this:
In a rare case of self-criticism, a senior official in the Hamas-led government said the Palestinians have bungled the aftermath of Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and called on residents to stop blaming Israel for all their woes.
I hope you lot realise that this is all Israel’s fault.
Posted by James Waterton on 2006 08 26 at 10:17 AM • permalinkAs long as these freaks are killing each other, they aren’t killing decent people. Simple.
Posted by Daniel San on 2006 08 26 at 11:15 AM • permalinkThe more I read and witness these depraved and uncontrollable acts, the more I become convinced that the only answer is to build a big fence around the whole Middle East. (Yes, Israel stole this idea from me). Confine this insanity to just that part of the world.
Maybe John Carpenter can make a movie about it.
Posted by wronwright on 2006 08 26 at 11:18 AM • permalinkIn May, a 59-year-old man suffering from heart failure was brought into the Khan Yunis hospital’s emergency room. When informed of the man’s death, his family “went crazy and trashed the emergency room…. Anyone wearing a white coat was beaten,” said Dr. Nasser Azaar, the emergency room director.
I guess they were angry because they’d already signed up the old man to next week’s suicide bomber class.
There’s nothing major left to steal as Arafat’s widow, recently remarried, got it all. It’s all petty crime now except for the African scammers still using her name on e-mail soicitations.
Posted by Pat Patterson on 2006 08 26 at 11:29 AM • permalinkIn a personal conflict, “they end up using the weapons that they have to defend against the occupation against each other,” said Abu Thaer, a spokesman for the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade militia.
What occupation?
The aggressive behavior of Gaza’s clans points to a creeping erosion of public faith in the law, said Hamdi Shaqqura of the Palestine Center of Human Rights.
What law?
Can we send in Kurt Russell and Mel Gibson for a sort of reality show? With live ammo, of course. Ought to shoot the network ratings through the roof…..
Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2006 08 26 at 02:38 PM • permalinkThey really aren’t like us.
That’s why George Bush is going to be eternally disappointed in his drive to present them with the gift of democracy and liberty.
They don’t want it.
Posted by Harry Eagar on 2006 08 26 at 03:04 PM • permalinkLord of the Palis. Sounds like they’re not much enjoying the reap half of the sow/reap equation.
My reaction to this is much like my reaction to organized crime and drug cartel wars—a bemused detachment.
There’s no way out. The borders are closed for months at a time to all but foreign passport holders and those with political connections.
Good.
Posted by Kyda Sylvester on 2006 08 26 at 03:10 PM • permalinkOnly if you’re planning to move Rhode Island over there.
Posted by Kyda Sylvester on 2006 08 26 at 04:53 PM • permalinkFor two hours, the two forces traded gunfire on the hospital grounds as family elders tried to mediate. There were no deaths….
Ferchrissakes, what kind of losers are these clowns?
Two hours of “trading gunfire” and they couldn’t manage to kill anyone?
What a bunch of bad-aim pussies. They must get their firearms training from watching Hollyweird “gangsta” movies.
Posted by Barbara Skolaut on 2006 08 26 at 05:09 PM • permalink“Thousands of young Palestinian men belong to armed militant groups. The militarization of Gazan society makes it more likely that otherwise harmless scuffles will turn deadly.
In a personal conflict, “they end up using the weapons that they have to defend against the occupation against each other,” said Abu Thaer, a spokesman for the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade militia.”
They say it like its a bad thing.
Posted by Harry Buttle on 2006 08 26 at 05:19 PM • permalink“Men are beating their wives and fighting with their neighbors. Families are living on the generosity of relatives and credit from merchants, both of which are starting to run dry. Youth are turning to petty crime.”
So much for Detroit, what’s going on in Gaza?
Posted by Vanguard of the Commentariat on 2006 08 26 at 08:10 PM • permalinkThe aggressive behavior of Gaza’s clans points to a creeping erosion of public faith in the law, said Hamdi Shaqqura of the Palestine Center of Human Rights.
Surely - she said, succumbing to the general satirical atmosphere- that should be Human Rites…?
Posted by carpefraise on 2006 08 27 at 05:03 AM • permalinkAnyone wearing a white coat was beaten
Those West Coast goal umpires had it coming.
Posted by Jim Geones on 2006 08 27 at 05:49 AM • permalinkthat feral kid from the Road Warrior movie
Emil Minty Update - he’s now an award-winning jeweller with a shop in the suburb of Gladesville, Sydney (which for you Americans, just happens to be in John Howard’s own electorate).
Posted by Apparatchik on 2006 08 27 at 10:48 PM • permalink
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“Can’t they afford the real thing?”
Laughed Out Loud.